Schools closed and travel disrupted as Typhoon Mitag makes landfall in Guangdong, China
Typhoon Mitag made landfall on the coast of Shanwei, Guangdong Province, at 14:50 LT (06:50 UTC) on September 19, 2025, bring heavy rains. Authorities raised Level III emergency response as the storm prompted school and other closures.
Typhoon Mitag making landfall over China at 06:50 UTC on September 19, 2025. Credit: Himawari-9, Zoom Earth, The Watchers
Mitag crossed the southern Chinese coast and made landfall near Shanwei city at 14:50 LT (06:50 UTC) on September 19. At landfall, the maximum sustained winds near the center reached 90 km/h (56 mph). It had and estimated minimum central pressure of 1 000 hPa and moved northwest at 10–15 km/h (6–9 mph).
The National Meteorological Centre (NMC) under the China Meteorological Administration (CMA) forecast heavy to very heavy rainfall across eastern Guangdong, southeastern Fujian and parts of Jiangxi, with local 24-hour totals expected to reach 250–300 mm (10–12 inches).
Provincial monitoring confirmed multiple townships recorded more than 100 mm (4 inches), with some exceeding 250 mm (10 inches) and a few localities surpassing 300 mm (12 inches) in 24 hours. The rainfall has raised the risk of flash floods, river flooding, and landslides in mountainous terrain.
Authorities in China upgraded the emergency response to Level III, the second-highest in the four-tier system, in preparation for the typhoon’s impacts.
Schools in Shanwei and some districts of neighboring Huizhou were suspended for the day. Ferry services were suspended in coastal areas, schools were closed in several districts, and high-speed rail services between major coastal cities were temporarily halted.
Tourist sites and marine passenger operations were suspended as a precaution. Local media reported localized flooding, road inundation and power supply interruptions in coastal counties.
Mitag was the 17th named tropical cyclone of the 2025 season and 6th to make landfall in China this year.
Chinese meteorological authorities cautioned that autumn typhoons, including Mitag, often carry prolonged rainfall and compound hazards across inland provinces.
References:
1 Typhoon Mitag makes landfall in south China’s Guangdong – PRC – September 19, 2025
Rishav Kothari is Editor-in-Chief of The Watchers, where he runs the newsroom and covers earthquakes, volcanoes, severe weather and space weather.
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